HOBOKEN, NJ — Whenever fireworks explode over the Hudson River, residents on both the New York City and New Jersey side wonder about the occasion.
Some are irked because pets can get spooked and run away, and babies wake up. And when they come around the 9/11 anniversary, folks are even more unnerved.
If you're hearing fireworks on Sept. 7, which is a Sunday, here's why.
The fireworks were postponed from Saturday due to the weather.
Hoboken's 99th annual Italian Festival, otherwise known as the Feast of the Madonna dei Martieri, began on Thursday and ran through Sunday on Hoboken's south waterfront. The annual fireworks were planned after 9 p.m. Sunday (postponed from Saturday).
The festival's traditional "feast bombs" were heard first around 4:15 p.m. Sunday, and the fireworks started in earnest after 9 p.m.
"Alright NYC Twitter," posted one social media user. "You know what time it is. Where are these fireworks coming from and what are they for? US Open celebration?"
The Town of Montvale, further west in New Jersey, also shot off fireworks on Sunday night for its annual day in the park.
Hoboken Italian Festival
The tradition of the Madonna Dei Martiri festvial goes back to the year 1399, when the King of Napoli, Ladislao di Durazzo, ordered that a street festival and religious celebration be combined to celebrate the “Miracle” and blessings of the Madonna.
In previous years, the fireworks set off a storm of speculation on both sides of the river. READ MORE: Fireworks Spark Theories In NYC, Hoboken, Jersey City
OTHER NEWS: Reality TV's Andy Cohen Is Angry At The Hoboken Skyline
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